Choosing your postgraduate course requires some thought. You need a course that fits your areas of interest, life and career goals. Postgraduate courses range from conversion courses, to diplomas, certifications and professional qualifications as well as masters and doctorate degrees.

Why do a postgrad?

The reason to do a postgraduate course varies from person to person. Your reason will help you determine which courses to consider. To help determine your goal, ask yourself what you hope to achieve:

Are you looking for a specific career or a career change, a new career opportunity or potential career advancement?

Do you want to increase your employment possibilities or earnings potential?

Is it the idea of an academic challenges that interests you?

Do you want to earn a qualification or certification at a postgraduate level without earning a masters or doctorate?

Is there a specific area of study you want to pursue at a masters or doctorate level?

Which course?

Once you know what you want, you need to decide which course will best help you accomplish your goals. You should also consider your future employment opportunities and earnings potential. Ask the following questions:

Does this course qualify me to apply for employment in the career of my choice? Do I need to do additional courses to complete the qualification requirements?

Will the course provide the skills and knowledge for career opportunities and advancement in my subject area? Do employers recognise this qualification as useful?

Will the course provide the opportunity to gain the necessary research skills and experience to progress into a doctorate programme?

Seek advice from other students

Students and former students of the course are a great source of advice. You ask about their experience, the learning environment and value that they received from the course. In addition, students who have completed the course can give you advice about whether the course met their goals for employment opportunities, career advancement and earnings potential.

Investigate the institution

You also need to consider the institutions that offer the course you wish to take. Look at the entry requirements, the institution’s reputation, as well as their graduation and employment placement rates. You should find plenty of information on the institution’s website.

Furthermore, you should evaluate whether a particular college or university is right for your lifestyle and budget. Do you have time you to do the course full time, or does a part time schedule work best for you?

Once you have the answers to all of the above, you’ll be in a great position to make the best possible decision regarding your postgrad studies. Best of luck!

Published by

Anne Sexton

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name *

Email *

Comment

We'd love to send you the latest news and articles about evening classes, further learning and adult education by email. We'll always treat your personal details with the utmost care and will never sell them to other companies for marketing purposes.

Yes, please. I'd like to receive updates about classes and courses in my area No, thanks. I don't want to receive updates about classes courses in my area

Featured Articles

A passion for creating great work across multiple mediums, attention to detail and creative flair which can illuminate everything from graphic novels and comic books, books, billboards and international campaigns. A huge interest in all mediums of art is obviously a requirement for someone looking at postgraduate courses in illustration. As is the ability to […]

Classical studies is a fascinating area which provides an illuminating and detailed look at the ages of Classical Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. There is massive scope in terms of areas of focus in terms of Classical studies but common areas of focus are on the cultures and languages of Greco-Roman Antiquity and those […]

Transform yourself from an inexperienced, or nervous, speaker to skilled presenter through planning and practice via a course in presentation skills. Using industry leading methods, participants will learn how to captivate their audience and improve at presenting your ideas with conviction, control and excellent content. It’s common for people starting off at postgrad level to […]

Are you thinking of taking your Postgraduate Course in another country? Here at Postgrad.ie, we’ve compiled our top tips when it comes to undertaking postgraduate study further afield. Why Study Abroad? Travelling to another country to pursue a postgraduate course is an increasingly viable and attractive option for Irish students. One or more of the […]

Although it mightn’t happen right as you graduate, you are bound to be called for an interview at some point. While this should be a boost to your confidence, it obviously doesn’t mean that the job/fellowship is in the bag. We’ve compiled our top tips when it comes to interview skills. You have a way […]

It can be very difficult balancing a postgraduate programme with anything that resembles a social life. Good habits from the get-go are the only way you will survive your postgrad with your mental health intact. As your course is underway, do you find yourself saying: ‘If only I had more time?’ Is your problem lack […]

Do you want to work in the rewarding, creative field of Architecture? The role of the architect is to design and co­ordinate building projects, from an extension to a house, to a complete housing estate or office block, based on a budget and brief that has been supplied by the client. What You’ll be Working On […]

As the fears facing climate change are changing the way in which we think about the world, when it comes to horticulture and the environment, there are more opportunities for a career in this field than ever. People now have the money, and the desire, to create that little bit of greenery which can help […]

Irish people have suffered the same (albeit largely self-inflicted) fate as other countries in the Anglophone world in being largely monolingual. Thankfully, that attitude is changing with the ever-expanding range of language courses available. This reflects the growing hunger in Irish people for expressing themselves in a foreign language, beyond stock phrases such as – […]

Thinking of changing careers and moving into the law? Then a postgraduate course in Legal Studies might be your best option. Solicitor, barrister, judge – that’s the normal progression of ambitious legal eagles. As a career choice, it’s possible to ascend rapidly, especially in today’s economy where the demand for solicitors and legal professionals is […]